The literature pertaining to the effect of forage-and grain-based feeding systems on beef quality has been reviewed in light of considerable interest in New Zealand regarding the relative merits of grain-and grass-based beef finishing systems. In particular, fifteen experiments which compared forage-and grain-finished beef at the same carcass weight or degree of fatness, have been selected from the literature. When compared at similar carcass weights or the same degree of fatness, the type of feeding system had no effect per se on tenderness, juiciness, lean meat colour, marbling, or pH. In eight out of twelve experiments where flavour was assessed, panellists could not distinguish an effect of diet on flavour. Effects on fat colour were variable and, in six of the nine experiments where fat colour was measured, grain feeding failed to "improve" fat colour. It is concluded that there is little scientific justification for the claim that grain feeding is necessary to produce high quality beef. Beef of comparable quality can be obtained from cattle finished on forage-based diets (i.e., pasture) provided that acceptable carcass weights and degrees of finish can be achieved at a young age.

Lamb behaviour was investigated where varying stocking rates and rearing rank indirectly induced differences in ewe milk production. 24 Romney x Poll Dorset ewes, with either twin or single lambs, were stocked at either 25 or 15 ewes per hectare, three weeks after lambing (2 August ± 1.0 days). Lamb activity (grazing, otherwise active, or inactive) was determined by instantaneous scan sampling at 3-min intervals over 4 hours at 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks of age. Milk production, estimated by machine milking and lamb live weights were also measured at these ages, on the day prior to observations. Ewes with twin lambs produced slightly more milk than ewes with singles (213 vs. 183 ml per 4 hours, respectively). Ewes on the high stocking rate produced an average of 181 ml milk per 4 hours compared with 216 ml per 4 hours in the low stocking rate group. Twin lambs spent significantly more time grazing than did single lambs (52.3% vs. 41.0% overall, respectively) and lambs on the higher stocking rate spent on average 10% more time grazing, than those stocked less densely. These results suggest that lambs with access to less milk spend more time by grazing, but this does not adequately compensate for the lower milk supply which resulted in reduced lamb growth rates. This raises the possibility of enhancing lamb growth rates prior to weaning by providing high quality, lamb-specific forage to the lamb independently of the ewe. Keywords: ewe milk production, grazing, lamb behaviour, lamb growth rate